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The centre for Avon and Somerset is one of four announced today Credit: ITV News West Country

A new support centre for victims of rape and sexual assault has been announced for Avon and Somerset.

The centre is one of four announced by the Government, and will be backed by £4 million pounds worth of funding. They will open within the next year, bringing the total number of centres across England and Wales to 78.

Around 473,000 women and men are sexually assaulted each year, according to recent figures, with one in 20 women reported as being a victim of a serious sexual offence. But only 54,000 sexual offences are recorded by police on average each year.

Since the 2010 coalition agreement, nine new centres have opened in Northumbria, Leeds, Southend, Suffolk and mid-Wales Hereford, Devon, Dorset and Trafford.